While cleaning out my apartment this past weekend, I discovered that I have an unbelievable amount of plastic grocery bags. I now use reusable bags, but for years I couldn’t bear throwing away plastic bags…since I knew they would just sit in a landfill for years. So what else can be done with plastic bags of all shapes and sizes?

Put those plastic bags to use!

Obviously these little baggies are perfect to line your bathroom garbage bin, pick up Fido’s poopies, and toss dirty diapers. But they can also be used to dispose of other messy things like cat liter, broken glass, spilled sand, etc.

Use them as packing material instead of those awful foam peanuts. BONUS, if you’re going on vacation, pack some of these plastic bags to separate dirty clothes from the clean ones.

You can put these plastic baggies on wiper blades and mirrors in the wintertime to keep blades from freezing to the window.

Wrap bags around your knees while working on the car, in the garden, or anywhere where you might get dirt and grime on your pants.

Wrap breakables in plastic baggies before putting them into storage or moving.

If you’re in the middle of a painting project and are suddenly called away, put the paint brush in a plastic bag and tie the bag to the handle with a rubber band. The brush will stay moist for up to one day.

I use this tip all the time. Bags are amazing for people who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. If you’re peeling fruits and veggies, shaking and baking, making meat balls, etc., use a plastic bag instead of a cutting board and that’s one less dish for you to wash!

Bring them back to the grocery store and use them as “reusable bags.”

Donate them to food pantries, thrift stores, libraries, and local bakeries/grocery stores. They are always looking for cheap bags for their customers.

If your favorite flower vase has a crack, line it with a plastic bag before adding flowers.

If you’d much rather just get rid of them, many stores now have receptacles specifically for plastic bag recycling. I know Wal-Mart does.

Knowledge is power! Learn fun facts, hints and tips, and creative ways to use every day items with “The Buzz” posts on Thursday.